Our lab is focused on the cell biology of the neuron and seeks to understand
how nerve cells work, acquire their shape, and make their connections. We
do so with the expectation that understanding how the cell functions can give
us insight into the pathology of neurological disorders when those functions
fail. Moreover, much as the shape and style of a building is constrained and
influenced by the properties of the building materials, so too is the architecture
and circuitry of the brain dependent on how these cellular components
operate.

The research interests of the Schwarz Lab include 1) axonal transport
of organelles, particularly mitochondria, by kinesins and dynein; 2) the
development and structural plasticity of synapses; and 3) the trafficking of
membrane proteins and exocytosis, particularly in neurons. Our inquiries into
these fundamental processes have brought us in contact with translational
questions of neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
The etiology of Parkinson's Disease and peripheral neuropathies have
become a particular concern of our group.

Projects move back and forth between Drosophila melanogaster, mice, rats,
and cell lines as the scientific question demands. We approach each question
through a combination of genetics, biochemistry, electrophysiology, cell
biology, and imaging.